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Japan Betting Sites | 2024 Updated List

For years, Japanese punters have been relegated to very few options when it comes to betting in Japan, unlike what Isle of Man bookmakers have to offer.

The Japanese Penal Code prohibits almost all forms of betting with a couple of exceptions, such as horse racing and lottery-style domestic soccer pools – these events are also the answer to the question on “what can you bet on in Japan?”.

Fans of fixed-odds betting have no real legal options. Online betting in Japan is already quite limited and there are not many Japan bet options for fixed-odds wagers. Instead, they must turn to online betting sites or illegal Japan bookmakers.

Summary of the article

Top 10 Betting Sites for Japan in 21 November 2024 – Updated List

Rank
Bookmaker
Bonus
Safe & Trusted
Rating
Get Started
1

Stake Sports

Exclusive 10% Rakeback
Yes
Rating 9.99 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
2

Goldenbet Sports

100% up to 500 €/$/£
Yes
Rating 9.95 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
3

Megapari

Welcome bonus on your 1st deposit up to 100 EUR
Yes
Rating 9.93 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
4

Betandyou

Exclusive: 130% up to €143
Use Promocode: GAMBLINGJUDGE
Yes
Rating 9.90 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
5

22Bet Sports

100% bonus up to €122
Yes
Rating 9.80 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
6

1XBet

100% up to €100
Yes
Rating 9.65 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
7

SpinBetter

Exclusive: 100% up to €130
Use Promocode: JUDGE
Yes
Rating 9.43 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
8

Betwinner

Exclusive: 100% up to €130
Use Promocode: GJBET
Yes
Rating 9.26 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
9

Vave

100% up to 500 USDT
Yes
Rating 9.18 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
10

Bzeebet

Welcome Package 100% Up to 100EUR
Yes
Rating 9.12 out of 10
See moreGet bonus

Are there legal Japan betting sites?

The answer is yes, but the best bookmakers for Japan are located abroad – in order to get the best betting site offers, you must play at international betting sites. Online betting Japan is banned, but fortunately for punters, Japanese authorities neither block Japan bet sites abroad nor do they prosecute Japan players.

Many of the world’s most recognized and safe online bookmakers such as UK bookmakers accept wagers from Japanese punters. There have been serious discussions about allowing casinos to operate in Tokyo and Osaka and Japanese sports betting fans are surely hoping that the legalization of betting in Japan is also on the menu.

Maybe, one day, online betting in Japan will become completely legal. However, events like the recent Japanese baseball betting scandal, where players were found betting, so susceptible to shaving points, will not bolster the cause. Still, betting on sports in Japan is alive and well, although maybe not legally.

The summary of online betting Japan

To sum it up, sports betting in Japan (including Sumo bookmakers) is considered illegal and Japan bet market is quite limited, but the government allows playing at bookmakers by country from abroad. And if you pick the right websites, placing a bet in Japanese is perfectly possible. Below, you can see a list of the biggest betting sites that offer this option.

So, what are the top 10 betting companies to place a bet on in Japan? You can see all of our picks below. These are the best Japanese betting sites as of 2024 and they offer the best betting bonuses and cover the most sports, while some of these websites are also Sumo bookmakers. In short, if you are from Japan and looking for a safe, legal, and reliable bookmaker to play with, these are your best options. Pick one and start playing today!

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What are the best sports betting sites and bookmakers in Japan?

Online gambling and placing a Japanese bet is illegal here which means that there are no licensed or regulated internet bookmakers in Japan. This also means Japan betting odds are determined by international operators, not local ones. Japanese punters take solace in the fact that the authorities do not punish online sports bettors and they don’t block foreign online bookmakers.

So, Japan sport betting online is perfectly possible, as long as you use international operators. This means the internet is full of Japan betting opportunities if you know where to look and we can help you to find the biggest betting sites, such as Curacao bookmakers, that offer you the chance to place a Japanese bet. Needless to say, they will also offer the most competitive Japan betting odds, as well as the “accept all odds movement” feature. As a result, Japanese sports betting fans are more or less free to play Japan sports betting at their favorite online betting sites.

The biggest and most reputable sports betting brands, such as Betclic and MarathonBet are trusted around the globe and offer the most competitive Japan bet options. Japanese sports bettors know that when they place bets at 22Bet and Pin Up Bet they are getting competitive odds, fast payouts and a wide range of markets to wager on. They also know that these top-rated bookies are constantly offering a great selection of bonuses and incentives.

Betting laws for Japan Bookies

According to the Criminal Code of Japan, land-based and online betting is prohibited. However, there are a couple of exceptions to this rule. As of 2024, here is the legal situation of casinos and bookmakers in Japan:

  • Online casinos are strictly prohibited.
  • Land-based casinos are legal but there are only three licenses in the country. These licenses allow launching a land-based casino in Osaka, Tokyo, and Yokohama, as long as it is a part of a resort. There are no other licenses, and these are the only regions allowed.
  • Land-based and online betting is legal only for “public races”. These include horse racing, bicycle racing, powerboat racing, and speedway motorcycle racing. Japan betting sites cannot offer betting opportunities for any other sport.
  • Parimutuel betting is also legal only for these sports.

That’s it. Betting sites in Japan are only allowed for specific sports. There are no, for example, Japan football betting sites because football is not on the list of “allowed sports” like it is at Brazil bookmakers where football is a very important sport. Japan gambling sites and laws are quite strict and cannot offer an ideal experience. That’s why most of the Japanese bettors prefer to play at Asian bookies that are located abroad. (Speaking of which, make sure to check our gambling sites by country list to find new Japan betting sites that are abroad.) 

Liberal Democratic Party in Japan is trying to legalize all forms of betting. However, this is a very conservative country, and the majority of society prefers to stay away from legal betting. Ironically, Japan is one of the countries where illegal betting is most common.

The famous Japanese mafia, Yakuza, runs a gambling den on almost every street and offers both casino games and sports betting. Japan’s failure to legalize betting is a big mistake. Organized crime is getting stronger, and the state is denied a large tax revenue.

What are the most popular sports in Japan betting?

People often associate Japan with Sumo bookmakers, Japanese baseball betting and martial arts, but there are many other popular sports that are widely followed. Rugby union, handball, volleyball, and basketball enjoy a high profile here, similar to the situation of Australia bookmakers and their bettors.

While it’s not as big here as in Europe, soccer is a huge draw for spectators and punters alike. That’s why football betting sites in Japan are quite popular. American football is growing after the NFL played a series of games here. Professional ice hockey has even been played in front of Japanese crowds giving it some attention.

In addition to these, we can say that horse racing, motorcycle racing, bicycle racing and motorcycle speedway are also popular. There are 25 horse races in Japan that have an international Grade I rating, and speedway races are called “auto race” for some reason. JPY bookmakers and betting sites offer the most betting opportunities for these sports or others like e-sports betting, but as long as you play at one of the websites mentioned in our list of top Japan betting sites, you can place a bet for any sport in the world.

Is online sports betting legal in Japan?

Unfortunately for Japanese punters, online sports betting in Japan is illegal. Luckily for these punters, the government seems content to allow it to happen without much interference. While there are banking rules in place that hinder some transactions, the authorities here do little to stop this activity. Online bookmakers are not blocked and players are not punished.

However, as we mentioned above, both land-based and online betting is allowed for public races. The law defines public races as “horse racing, bicycle racing, powerboat racing, and speedway motorcycle racing”. Japan betting sites are legal only for these sports. If you are interested in these sports, including the live betting option, remember that you can find a bookmaker for every region in the world by checking our bookmakers by country lists.

Using a Japan bet app: Mobile betting in Japan

The laws that bind Japanese betting sites also apply to mobile betting. In other words, there is no Japanese betting app that lets you bet on any sport you want but Gibraltar bookmakers offer plenty of options. In Japan, betting is only allowed on the sports we have listed above, and a betting application will be subject to the same restrictions. However, if you prefer international betting sites instead of Japanese betting sites, you can also use the mobile applications of these sites.

Payment methods for Japan betting sites

Playing on international betting sites in Japan is not restricted in any way, unlike betting sites in Vietnam, which are totally banned by their government. So, it is possible to send (or withdraw) money to international betting sites using the local banking system. (By browsing our guide on currencies of bookmakers, you can see a list of sites that support JPY.) Therefore, you can freely decide which payment methods to use when playing at Japanese betting sites. Our recommendations are:

  • Wire Transfers: Although slower and more costly than other methods, wire transfers are the ideal method, especially for large amounts of money transfers. You can find the most suitable bookmakers by payment methods for your needs by looking at our list of bank transfer bookmakers and betting sites.
  • Credit Cards: VISA and MasterCard can be used for both deposit and withdrawal. Transfers are completed instantly and are free of charge. They are also a very practical payment method to use. We recommend that you take a look at these guides for more info: VISA bookmakers and MasterCard betting sites. You can also use debit cards for deposits. For more information, please check our Maestro bookmakers and betting sites guide.
  • Electronic Wallets: Electronic wallets such as Skrill, Neteller, and ecoPayz offer fast transfer times, low commissions, and ease of use. There are also many bonuses offered for these payment methods. You can find more information in our guides about EcoPayz betting sites and best Neteller bookmakers and betting sites guides. Additionally, crypto betting is becoming increasingly popular, providing fast transactions and enhanced privacy.
  • Prepaid Cards: While withdrawing money is usually not possible, prepaid cards are one of the safest and most convenient ways to deposit. Processing times are instant, and you do not have to pay any commission. Start by reading our guide to Paysafecard bookmakers and betting sites. 

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Are there any sports betting bonuses and free bets for japanese players?

Japanese sports bettors who are looking for great bookmakers and sports betting exchanges that give bonuses have a lot to choose from. 1xBet, Fortune Jack, and 888 Sportswill welcome Japanese customers with free bets of smaller values. Up to €100 in free bonus bets are a cinch to claim at William Hill and X-Bet, while it gets even better at Tornado Bet who will welcome you with up to 350 EUR in bonus bets. Punters are cashing in at Sports Betting with their $1,000 in free bets.

If you are looking to collect some cash bonuses, then you can take advantage of the €20 in cash that Bet Safeand Royal Panda are giving away. How would you like to get $100 cash injection? It’s just a few mouse clicks away at Bet Winner as are the €100 cash bonuses that 18Bet have waiting for you.

Casinia Bet kicks it up a notch by giving you up to €150 while Malina Sports and 1xBit will. Big stacks of money are being tossed your way when you sign up at CloudBet. It is giving you up to 5 BTC in bonus cash. Japanese players can benefit from Melbet sign up offer of 100% up to €100 on their first deposit. Many more great cash and free bet bonuses are found at Gamblingjudge.com. While you are there, be sure to read the extensive bookmaker reviews from other bookmakers, such as Antigua bookmakers, that will help you select the right bookie and the best bonuses.

What to really expect form japanese bookmarkers

PROS

  • No taxes for gambling winnings
  • Legal betting for exotic sports
  • International betting sites are not restricted

CONS

  • Online betting is heavily restricted
  • There are only a couple of betting sites in Japan

We Picked the Best Japan Betting Sites for You

While there are no top bookmakers in Japan due to local laws, we can still find you the best Japanese betting sites that support JPY as a native currency. You can see a list of them in this article and find more using the search filters on our website. We are dedicated to finding you the best Japan betting sites and we update our content on a regular basis for this reason. Keep visiting us to see the latest online betting  and mobile betting sites in Japan and good luck out there!

FAQ about betting sites in Japan

Online casinos are illegal. Japan betting sites are legal only for public races, which include horse racing, bicycle racing, powerboat racing, and speedway motorcycle racing. For any other sports, betting is still illegal.

There are no actual betting sites in Japan. There are a couple of websites that offer limited betting opportunities for the sports we listed above. For this reason, it is impossible to create a list of the best bookmakers in Japan: Such a thing does not exist.

Yes, but only for horse racing, bicycle racing, powerboat racing, and speedway motorcycle racing. There are no Japanese betting sites for other sports. If you want an unrestricted online betting experience, you should play at international betting sites.

No. Casino players and bettors do not pay any taxes for their gambling-related winnings. Land-based casinos pay a 15% monthly tax based on their revenue. Japan players must also pay a 3.000 Yen “entrance fee” when they visit land-based casinos. However, non-resident foreigners do not have to pay this fee.

No. EUR, USD, and GBP are still the primary currencies supported by betting sites. JPY is considered an “exotic” currency and only a couple of bookmakers support it. We recommend checking our list of Japanese betting sites: All sites in that list support JPY.

Due to local laws, it is impossible to get an ideal betting (land-based or online) experience in Japan. Only four sports are allowed, and betting opportunities are extremely limited. However, if you play at international betting sites, you can get lots of options and bonuses.

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